Everton manager Roberto Martinez has urged his players not to get caught up in the occasion during this weekend's derby with Liverpool in the Premier League.

The Blues can move into the Champions League places on Saturday if they beat their Merseyside rivals at Goodison Park.

However, Martinez wants his players to remain focused and not be affected by the fiery atmosphere that is likely to be generated by both sets of supporters.

"I just realised after five minutes at the club how much this fixture means to the fans," the Spaniard is quoted as saying by BBC Sport.

"But I think the important aspect from our point of view is just to make sure we are ourselves in the game, that we don't get affected by the occasion, that we don't play the derby and we play the game, and then realise that the three points are important enough to be concentrating on those and that will look after the whole occasion by itself."

The two teams played out a 2-2 draw when they met in this fixture last season.